San Jacinto River Authority's pipeline project pivots east

Published 2:54 pm, Wednesday, December 24, 2014

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After months of road construction relating to water pipeline installation on the west side of Interstate 45 has finally wrapped up, the San Jacinto River Authority will begin installing pipes on the east side of the freeway in January.

Maplewood Drive in Oak Ridge North will be most affected, with the north bound lane facing rolling closures as the construction progresses, said Ronda Trow, public relations manager for the SJRA.

Robinson Road will remain open to north and south bound traffic, but will face delays due to heavy equipment, Trow said.

Trow advised east side residents to take an alternate route whenever possible.

“We will have traffic signs and detour signs showing people where to go,” Trow added. “We’re going to try to be sensitive to everyone that lives in that area.”

Over the past couple of months the SJRA was working on tunneling under Interstate 45 and working along Rayford Road, but Trow said that construction didn’t cause many delays because they mostly worked along a pipeline easement.

Mayor Jim Kuykendall said he urges residents to be understanding as construction work causes traffic frustration.

“I’ve been telling the residents, we just have to be patient,” said Jim Kuykendall, mayor of Oak Ridge North. “We’re going to have construction for the next three years with road construction and all that ... this is progress.”

Installation on the pipeline is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2015 and SJRA plans to begin pumping water in the summer as well.